Blood & Ink: The Zen Maxims

Nana korobi, ya oki…

A Zen proverb that translates to “fall down seven times, stand up eight.”

To me, it means that with as little deliberation as possible—with minimal complaint, catastrophizing, or self-degradation—just get back on the horse.

For 3 weeks I was at Kumankaya Healing Center in the Mayan jungles of Mexico.

Getting power, let alone internet, in a place that remote is an act of incredible ingenuity.

Tropical storm Sara ripped through Mexico during this time and tore up the electrical system. No power or internet for ~3 days, and when it returned it was only an hour a day.

It threw me off this publication. I was also deep in my process and needed as much isolation and quiet time as possible.

It’s particularly easy for me to fall into ‘all or nothing’ thinking. “Either I do this perfectly, or not at all.”

A moment like this—missing my daily writing commitment—would’ve derailed me into dropping the project entirely, affirming a story that I’m not cut out for it, and feeling like a failure.

But what of it?

I’m back home in Costa Rica now. Settled. Here we are.

This rings of another classic Zen story, Joshu’s Bowl:

A monk told Joshu, “I have just entered the monastery. Please teach me.”
Joshu asked, “Have you eaten your rice porridge?
The monk replied, “I have eaten.”
Joshu said, “Then you had better wash your bowl.”
At that moment the monk was enlightened.

Without hesitation, with as little story as possible, do the next natural action.

I am settled. I have power. I will write.

No storytelling, no spirals. Just back to it. There are probably many areas of your life where this simple wisdom could be applied to great effect.

I’m glad to be back. I’ve missed this. The last 3 weeks were a pivotal moment, and I’m ready to pour it all into the pages in front of me.

No hurry, no pause.

Let’s get to it,
EB.